Rep. Tiangco pushes for bill to create ICAIC, empower ICI

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco is pushing for the passage of House Bills No. 4453 and 5699, also known as the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC), to empower the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

A similar bill creating an Independent People's Commission (IPC) is pending second reading at the Senate, filed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated that the IPC will be given more power once institutionalized through law and assured its swift passage, with a sunset provision allowing it to investigate anomalies until 2028.

Former ICI chairperson Rogelio Singson resigned from his post effective December 15, citing the commission's limitations and lack of resources, including its P41-million budget not being readily available.

Singson appealed to lawmakers to pass the legislation creating the IPC and the ICAIC, emphasizing the need for expanded authority such as the power to file cases, issue subpoenas, and implement preventive suspensions and hold departure orders.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima confirmed Singson's efforts to follow up on the status of the ICI bill in Congress.